196 
NOTE UPON INDIA OPIUM. 
This variety was also tested by Mr. Procter, with the fol- 
lowing results : 
100 grains of best Malwa Opium yielded to water 66 
grains; the residue dried, weighed 34 grains. The treatment 
of the solutions was the same as in the case of Patna. The 
crystals weighed 13 grains ; they were brown colored, and 
well defined. Treated with ether, brilliant acicular crys- 
tals were obtained, coloring nitric acid yellow, and not dis- 
solving in solution of caustic potassa. The residue, consti- 
tuted of morphia, weighed 9.25, leaving 3.75 as the 'weight 
of the product of the ethereal solution, or narcotina and 
codeia. 
From the examination detailed, it would appear that the 
amount of morphia procurable from these samples of opium, 
is above what it has been found by other chemists in the 
same varieties. Dr. Smytten, in Transactions of the Medi- 
cal and Physical Society, Calcutta, reports 2h to 3 per cent, 
of morphia ; this Pereira considered below the truth, which 
accords with Mr. Procter's results, viz. 5 percent, for Patna 
and 5k for Benares. Mr. Morson's estimate, that half the 
quantity of morphia is contained in Benares opium, when 
compared with the Turkey variety, will be nearly cor- 
rect. 
A variety of opium which is prepared with greater care, 
and which is called Garden Patna Opium, is referred to, 
both by Pereira and Christison. This was prepared first 
under the directorship of Mr. Fleming. It yields, according 
to Merck, 8 per cent, of morphia, but must, like all kinds, 
present more or less difference in the samples; thus Chris- 
tison obtained from it 6§ per cent, while Dr. O'Shaughnessy 
procured 10 per cent. 
Malwa opium, at one time, was regarded as inferior, but 
may now be considered the best of the Indian varieties; 
this is substantiated by the result of Mr. Procter's test, 
which afforded 9i per cent. Dr. Smytten obtained 71 to 
